Our Professors
Founder - Artist Director
Agathe Leimoni is born in Athens. She obtained her Diplomas of Piano (class:Gerassimos Kakalis), Harmony, Counterpoint and Fugue (class:Andrea Carbone), with the highest distinctions in Greece and continued her musical studies in Italy, obtaining the Diploma of Piano (class: Luigi Mostacci, State Conservatory of Bologna).She has been a student of Julia and Konstantin Ganev for several years.She has attended the class of “Perfectionnement” at the “Ecole Normale de Musique” in Paris, for two years, with Germaine Mounier and Young Shin An.Since her childhood, she has participated in many master classes of famous pianists who have commented her special musical nature, her brio and sensibility and received prizes and distinctions in various International Competitions.
Agathe Leimoni
Raquel Boldorini
Uruguay
Sylvia Chu
Maria Eshpai
Russia -Denmark
Thelma Da Capo
Marina Pliassova
Eser Bilgeman
Turkey
Sylvia Chu
Katalin Falvai
Hungary
Sylvia Chu
Konstantinos Desdtounis
Greece
Sylvia Chu
Luisa Fanti
Italy
Sylvia Chu
Elena Dikova
Bulgaria
Thelma Da Capo
Igor Petrin
Russia
Norway-Russia
Agathe Leimoni
Founder - Artist Director
Agathe Leimoni is born in Athens. She obtained her Diplomas of Piano (class:Gerassimos Kakalis), Harmony, Counterpoint and Fugue (class:Andrea Carbone), with the highest distinctions in Greece and continued her musical studies in Italy, obtaining the Diploma of Piano (class: Luigi Mostacci, State Conservatory of Bologna).
She has been a student of Julia and Konstantin Ganev for several years.
She has attended the class of “Perfectionnement” at the “Ecole Normale de Musique” in Paris, for two years, with Germaine Mounier and Young Shin An.
Since her childhood, she has participated in many master classes of famous pianists who have commented her special musical nature, her brio and sensibility and received prizes and distinctions in various International Competitions.
She has given a lot of recitals in Europe (Greece, Italy, Germany, France, England, Bulgaria, Belgium, Norway, Austria, Russia and Rumania), in South and Central America (Uruguay, Argentina, Mexico), participating also in many important Festivals.
She has performed as a soloist in Greece, Italy, Bulgaria, Rumania and Uruguay with the Orchestras of Athens, Thessaloniki, Bologna, Napoli, Sliven, Arad, Russe, Sibiu and Montevideo. She has been a member of Jury and President in many National and International Musical Competitions, in Greece, Italy, Bulgaria, France, Spain and Rumania.
She is a piano Professor and Head of the Piano Department at the Hellenic Conservatory of Athens and in Pythagorio Conservatory of Athens.
Since 2007 she is Professor at Schola Cantorum of Paris, where many of her students have graduated the last years, obtaining the superior Diplomas with the highest distinctions.
Since 2010 she is a regular Professor at the International Piano Academy of Belgium ”Primavera Pianistica”.
Since 2013 she has been nominated Visiting Professor at the Gnessin’s Music Academy of Moscow, starting a new artistic collaboration between the Russian Academy and the Helleneic Conservatory.
She has given master classes in Greece, Bulgaria, Italy, France, Spain, Belgium, Norway and South America with great success.
She has been teaching since the age of 16, and her successful pedagogical career has established her as one of the most promising Professors of piano in Greece and abroad. She has been travelling with her students in many countries and has offered them the chance to experience many musical opportunities and international events. Her pupils have won many prizes in National and International Competitions and have been distinguished abroad.
She has been awarded the golden medal of UNESCO and a special Diploma as a honorary member of the ‘CH.O.N.’ Musical Association of Greece, for her unique teaching and artistic contribution.
She has been awarded the Golden Medal of the “Union of Bulgarian Musicians and Dancers” and she has been acclaimed as the best pedagogue in the International Music Competition “Music and Earth” – Sofia 2006, for her pupils’ success.
She has been presented as a Soloist and Professor several times by the radio and tv in Greece and abroad . She has been interviewed by various newspapers and channels and received very enthusiastic critics from journalists in Greece and abroad.
She is Vice President of ‘CH.O.N.’ Musical Association of Greece.
She is the founder and Artistic Director of the ‘International Seiler Piano Competition – Rhodes 2004′, the ‘International Piano Festival- Rhodes 2004′, the ‘International Seiler Summer Piano Academy – Rhodes 2005′ ,the ‘International Seiler Piano Competition and Festival–Rethymno 2006′ and the International Summer Piano Academy and Festival of Poros since 2009.
Raquel Boldorini
Raquel Boldorini - Uruguay
Studied in Montevideo, Uruguay, at the National Conservatory of Music. Post-graduate work included studies with Eliane Richepin, Marguerite Long, Leon Fleisher, Sergio Lorenzo and Maria Tipo.
A major prizewinner, has won awards at the following competitions: Vercelli (Italy), Recife (Brazil), Vina del Mar (Chile), and Lalewicz (Argentina).
In 1975 received a scholarship to attend the Aspen Music Festival where she won a prize to play a Mozart Concerto.
She has played recitals in all major cities of Latin America, USA, France, Spain, Italy, England, Germany, Greece, Taiwan and Russia.
The review in the New York Times was “bejeweled playing could hardly be more expert or sympathetically in tune with the material”. Hailed as “an aristocrat of the piano” (Washington Post). She has been praised for her “pianistic experience and superb sensitivity” (The Post and Courier, Charleston SC). And for her “bewitching musical personality” (La Razon, Buenos Aires)
Eser Bilgeman
Eser Bilgeman - Turkey
Born in Istanbul, the pianist began her studies with Rana Erksan at the age of five. In 1977, she became a student of Prof. Meral Yapali at the then Istanbul Municipal Conservatory - now Istanbul University State Conservatory. Eser Bilgeman, who is also an alumnus of the Istanbul German High School, has completed her Bachelors, Masters and Doctoral degrees with Honours at the Istanbul University State Conservatory. Whilst continuing her studies,she participated in masterclasses of renowned pianists such as Dimitri Baschkirov, Hans Leygraf, Vitaly Margulis, Mikhail Voskerzenski, Idil Biret, Sergei Dorensky and Hüseyin Sermet.
She was awarded a scholarship by the British Council to study with Professor Irina Zaritzkaya in London, following her second prize at the Young Musician of the Year Competition in 1994.
Bilgeman received the second prize at the Jugend Musiziert (Young Musician) Competition held in Istanbul in 1986 and won first prize in the same competition held in Greece in 1988. In 1997, she was invited to Athens to perform the compositions of Turkish composer YukselKoptagel. This concert, featuring compositions by varios international composers, was later recorded on a CD. The pianist has performed as a soloist with orchestras, in recitals and chamber music concerts and in numerous cities including Istanbul, Ankara, Bursa, Denizli, Mersin, Edirne, Eskisehir, Thessalonica, Athens, Nürnberg, Kyrenia, Berlin and participated in many radio and television programmes.
Bilgeman has been frequently invited to be a member of the Jury at prestigious piano competitions. These include: Vedat Kosal National Piano Competition (2015), International Pera Piano Competition (2015 to 2025) (11 th -19 th editions) (Jury member & masterclasses), Ohrid Pearls International Piano Competition in Macedonia ( 2016 and 2024 ), International Viva Piano Competition, held in Sophia (2017 and 2024), 4th International Piano Competition “City of Vigo” (2020, Preselection Jury), Chopin 1 st International Piano Competition for Children and Young Pianists (2021), 6 th Akob National Chamber Music Competition, Mersin (2023), International Rhapsody Piano Competition, Adana (2019 to 2025, 1 st -6 th editions), International Festival of Music Iasi, Romania (2024, Jury member & masterclasses) , “International Robert Schumann Piano Competition Düsseldorf” (2025), International Musicarte Festival& Competition (2025), Italy.
A dedicated educator, Eser Bilgeman is deeply committed to nurturing young pianists. Her students have been prize winners, laureates and finalists in both national and international piano competitions.
Since 1990, she has been a faculty member at the Istanbul University State Conservatory where she was appointed as a Professor in 2007. She served as Head of the Piano Department from 2009 to 2024.
While continuing to mentor the next generation of pianists, she also performs in recitals, chamber music concerts and as soloist in orchestral concerts.
Konstantinos Destounis
Konstantinos Destounis - Greece
Konstantinos Destounis (b. 1991 in Athens) is a Piano Professor at the Department of Music Studies of the Ionian University in Corfu, Greece. He has recorded the Complete Piano Works by Maurice Ravel (Brilliant Classics, to be released in July 2025), Theodore Antoniou (Naxos, world première recording) and Naresh Sohal (Toccata Classics, world première recording). As a soloist he collaborates with numerous orchestras in Greece, Germany, Spain, the UK, Malta and Australia and he regularly performs recitals in International Festivals.
Konstantinos Destounis is a winner of many International Piano Competitions, most notably the Grand Prix Maria Callas (Athens), the Southern Highlands (Canberra), the European Piano Competition (Bremen), Giorgos Thymis (Thessaloniki), De Bach au Jazz (Paris), ClaMo Music (Murcia). As the winner of Greece’s national competition, he represented his country at the Eurovision Young Musicians in Vienna. For his artistry and his contribution to music, he has received awards by the Academy of Athens, the Hellenic Association of Theatre and Performing Arts Critics and the Yamaha Music Foundation.
After studying the piano with Agathe Leimoni (Hellenic Conservatory, Athens & Schola Cantorum, Paris), Igor Petrin (University of Macedonia, Thessaloniki, Greece) and Rolf Plagge (Mozarteum University, Salzburg), he went on to receive a Doctor of Music degree by the Royal College of Music in London, for his research on Theodore Antoniou’s piano works. He has also attended masterclasses of Aquiles Delle Vigne and Lilia Boyadjieva on a regular basis. He has been generously supported by scholarships of the Onassis Foundation, the association World in Harmony and the Thessaloniki Friends of Music Society.
Elena Dikova
Elena Dikova - Bulgaria
Bulgarian pianist Dr. Elena Dikova completed her education at the National Academy of Music ‘Pancho Vladigerov’(Sofia, Bulgaria) where she currently is a Professor of piano. Since 2024 she has been the Head of the Piano Department at the Faculty of Theory, Composition and Conducting of the National Academy of Music “Prof. Pancho Vladigerov”.
Additionally, she is also a member of the piano faculty at ‘Lubomir Pipkov’ National Schoolof Music (Sofia).
Elena Dikova’s extensive performing career has taken her to France, Austria, Italy, Hungary, Slovakia, North Macedonia and Singapore. In her native country, she has performed as a soloist with the Sofia State Philharmonic Orchestra, Bulgarian National Radio Orchestra and Chamber Ensemble ‘Sofia’s soloists’ among others. On multiple occasions, her recordings have been broadcast on Bulgarian national radio and television as well as private media channels. As a solo and chamber musician Dr. Dikova has been featured on festivals such as “Sofia music weeks”, “Apollonia Festival of Arts” “Sofia Summer” and “Ambul Festival”.
Dr. Dikova’s discography includes Ravel’s works for piano and violin in collaboration with violinist Teodora Hristova; Krasimir Taskov: complete works for piano, four hands with Alexander Vassilenko. She has also been featured in Flow and Stay recording of Georgy Arnaudov’s CD. Aside from her performing career, Dr. Dikova is in high demand as an educator, adjudicator, and a master class clinician. She has been a member of the international piano competitions in Pristine, Kossovo (2007), “Polihimnya” (Skopie, North Macedonia 2019) and “Pianofest” (Bitola, North Macedonia, 2019). Since 2016 Dr. Dikova serves regularly as a member of the International piano competition “Vivapiano”.
Aside from her studies in piano with Prof. Anton Dikov, Elena attended courses with Prof.
Olivier Gardon and Prof. Dominique Merlet in France between 1993 – 1997.
Maria Eshpai
Maria Eshpai - Russia -Denmark
Maria Eshpai was born into an artistic family in Moscow, Russia. She began piano lessons at the Central Music School in Moscow for particularly talented children at the age of 5. In 2005, Maria was admitted to the Tchaikovsky Conservatory in Moscow.
Over the years, Maria has played many concerts and participated in festivals and competitions in Russia, England, Denmark, Italy, France, Spain, Greece, Germany, Finland and the USA.
In 2011, Maria began studying in the soloist class at the Jutland Academy of Music with Professor Anne land.
In August 2012, Maria received a scholarship from the Harby Foundation.
From 2014 to 2016, Maria continued her education with a second soloist class – Accompaniment and Chamber Music.
During her study years in Denmark, Maria has organized many concerts and festivals dedicated to Carl Nielsen and her grandfather, the Russian composer Andrei Eshpai. In 2014 Maria made her debut with the Odense Symphony Orchestra, where she performed her grandfather’s Concerto Grosso. Among others she played with – Randers Chamber Orchestra, Sοnderjylland Symphony Orchestra, Aarhus Symphony Orchestra.
In addition to working as a soloist and chamber musician at home and abroad, Maria also teaches at the Royal Academy of Music in Aarhus and Aalborg Culture School.
Maria is a member of Duo Plus (with saxophonist Henriette Jensen), Lydenskab (ensemble that works with many different formats), Granhο¸j Dans Company (pianist for several performances including "Rose – The Rite of Spring – Extended 2", "Petrushka", performer and pianist in "This is not Swansea lake", composer and musician in "An Eva and An Adam"). Maria works also as composer mostly writing a music for the cinema but has done compositions for an art exhibitions.
Igor Petrin
Katalin Falvai
Katalin Falvai - Rusia
Katalin Falvai was born in Budapest, Hungary, into a family of musician.
Her father and mother are also pianists.
She is seven, when starts piano-lessons o?icially, and nine, when she is admitted to Franz Liszt Music Academy, „Class for Especially Talented Children”. Her teachers were Edit Hambalkó and Zsuzsa Esztó. The same year she wins the National Piano Competition in Hungary, and the Bach-Handel-Scarlatti Competition.
From the age of 18 she continues her studies in the university class of the Liszt Academy, with professors György Nádor, Kálmán Dráfi, Ferenc Rados, Béla Simon and chamber music professors Márta Gulyás and Sandor Devich. In 1997 she is selected for the scholarship of the Ban? Centre for the Arts, Canada, where she spent four month as Artist in Residency, and gave concerts. After her master-diplome, she is admitted to do doctorate-studies for the title „The Doctor of Liberal Arts ”,where she is working under the guidance of Zoltán Kocsis and András Batta.
In the years 2003, 2004 and 2005, she gets the Annie Fischer Prize. She worked in masterclasses with professors like: Dmitrij Bashkirov, Michail Voskresenskij, Jacque Rouvier, Andrea Bonatta, Noel Flores, Livia Rev, László Simon, Anton Cuerti, Tamas Ungár, Eduardo Hubert etc…
Katalin Falvai gave concerts in Hungary and abroad:
Germany- Stuttgart, Berliner Konzerthaus, France /Paris/, Sweden, Finland /Helsinki/, Moscow, Siberie, The Netherlands, Marocco, London, Italy, (Milano-Sala Verdi, Palazzo Cusani, Florence, Maiori, Varese, Cervo, Ispra, Como, Bellagio Liszt Festival etc… ), Rumanie /Bucarest/, Austria, Prague, Bratislava, Albanie, (Allegretto Albania Festival Tirana, Durres), USA, Canada, The Sultanate of Oman, China, etc…..
She appeared on stage with musicians such as Zoltán Kocsis, Tamas Vasary , Jenő Jandó, Andrea Rost, Eduardo Hubert, Lea Petrasso, the Kelemen Quartett, Gábor Boldóczki, and Maria Teresa Uribe.
In 2004 they founded a piano trio with violinist Sandor Javorkai and cellist Adam Javorkai, they toured over Europe and Asia. /Moscow, Moscow Spring Chamber Music Festival, Allegretto Albania Chamber Music Festival-Tirana, Durres, Hanti-Mansijsk- Siberia, Helsinki – Rocky Church, Austria – Wien – Chopin Festival, Kirchstetten – Schloss Kirchstetten Festival, Germany, Italy – Cremona, Cervo (Sandor Végh Festival), Milano, Florence, Maiori, etc….
She gave Masterclasses in Wales, China (Beijing Central University of Music), Dalian Piano Academy etc.), Franz Liszt Academy of Music, Budapest, Hungary, Italy-Milano Conservatorio Verdi. Was jury member at several competitions, like China, Piano Competitions in 2020, 2021, 2023, 2024, Bulgaria International Liszt-Bartók Piano Competition, Hungary, international and national piano competitions.
Katalin Falvai plays from the whole piano and chamber music repertoire, but she especially likes to play the pieces of russian composers.
Luisa Fanti
Luisa Fanti - Italy
LUISA FANTI, after Piano graduating in 1988 with Francesca Maggini and Jazz Music in 2002 from Bologna’s “G.B.Martini” Conservatory, she graduated also the High level Diploma in Chamber Music (two pianos) from the Piano International Academy of Imola – (BO) and the Academic High Diploma in Musical Discipline – soloist – from Conservatory of Parma.
She won prizes in National and International Piano Competitions : as soloist 1° prize at “Ottocento Festival di Saludecio - Cattolica”, “Forgione di Verbania (NO)”, in Piano 6 hands Trio 1° prize at “Paul Harris” Milano and 1° prize at International Competition in Marktoberdorf; other prizes in “Bardolino-Verona”, “Trofeo Pietro Napoli- Livorno”, “Coppa pianisti d’Osimo”, “Rovere d’oro – Imperia (in trio flute, cello and pf)”, “Franchini - Reggio Emilia (in duo with flute), “Fidapa- Pisa (in duo 4 hands)”.
Appreciated by M° Vladimir Ashkenazy, she has been a studying with Valerij Voskobojnikov for several years. Other teachers include A. Delle Vigne, L. Mostacci, S. Fiorentino, R. Cappello. She has been performer extensively as soloist, piano and orchestra and chamber musician (piano duo and trio, duo con organo; duo, trio e quintetto con archi e/o fiati) throughout Italy (Società dei Concerti di Milano, Conoscere la Musica di Bologna, Teatro Comunale di Lugo, Università di Bologna e Siena – where she holded a conference for Epta Italy about “Teaching and Piano Music by Lino Liviabella”, Siena Chigiana Academy with Octandre Ensemble, Agimus, Associazione Amici della Musica) and Europe - Greece, Russian (soloist and piano duo), Bulgaria (soloist and with orchestra), Germany, Swiss, Austria, Belgium, Spain and Canary Islands, France, Portugal. She was member of Baynov Piano Ensemble performing in 4/8 pianos (from 8 to 16 hands) in german Festivals. In 2001 she took part in the performance of Bach Goldberg Variations taken by 32 local pianists at Bologna’s Municipal Theater.
She is member of Tokio Piano Duo Association.
Since 1992 she has been teaching piano in many State Conservatories (Parma, Pesaro, Potenza, Gallarate /VA, Bergamo where she teaches also Piano Repertory History and Methodology of Piano Teaching. Currently she is Piano and Piano Duo teacher at Bologna Conservatory.
Member of Jury at “IX Concorso pianistico Internazionale Andrea Baldi ” 2019 and 2024 – Bologna , “Promenade 2006” – Vibo Valentia (VV)- 8° National Piano Competition “Luigi Paduano” – Cercola (NA) – 2004.
Her recording of D.Šostakovič “Complete 4 hands and 2 pianos works” - produced by Dynamic label– has been praised by Piano Magazine Parigi genn/febb ’05 and Classic Voice gen.’05.
Igor Petrin
Igor Petrin - Rusia
The artistry of Igor Petrin has thrilled audiences and inspired students the
world over.
A native of Siberia with its endless forests, rivers and lakes, Igor Petrin has
inherited and personified two of the richest and most noble artistic traditions of
the world: the Russian piano school of Heinrich Neuhaus, whose last student
V.Kastelski was I.Petrin`s teacher at the Moscow Conservatory, and
Konstantin Stanislavsky, the great actor and director whose investigation into
the forming and nurturing of the artistic image of the work to be performed,
has changed theatre forever.
Igor Petrin exemplifies in his performing and teaching the highest ideals of
these traditions. From the Neuhaus school, the technical mastery, colorful and
noble renditions of piano works, and from Stanislavsky an uncanny ability to
penetrate into the very essence of a work`s meaning and to create an
imaginary springboard from which to project this image. These qualities have
been heard in a wide range of genres of the chamber music.
As a solo pianist his huge repertoire spans the Baroque to the present era
and he has given world premieres of works of Greek, Spanish and Russian
composers.
Many of the students of his class at the Macedonia University of Thessaloniki
have profited from Petrin`s inspiring and life changing teaching and have gone
on to win coveted prizes in national and international competitions. Recently
the Russian and French press praised his "refined lyrical quality, the technical
perfection and rare sensitivity which subjugated the audiences"
Marina Pliassova
Marina Pliassova - Norway / Russia
Marina Pliassova was born in Russia, educated in Irkutsk college of arts and Novosibirsk state conservatory, then in Vladigerov music academy in Bulgaria/PhD. She is associate professor in musicology, pianist, teacher, writer, lecturer, the head of piano section of Young Talents at the Barratt Due Institute in Oslo, Norway. Marina’s activities are varied: she is a jury member of various international competitions; she is conducting master classes in different countries, as well as at annual festivals; she gives lectures on piano methodology and history of piano performance, researching and creating books for educational and fictional prose. Her books and articles are published in Russian and Norwegian languages, as well as doctoral work in Bulgarian. Marina’s students regularly perform at various international concerts and festivals, on radio, television, including as soloists with orchestras, many of them are laureates of international competitions, professional musicians and performers.
The Conductor of the invited Orchestra, "Sinfonietta" of Athens
George Aravidis
George Aravidis - Greece
Giorgos Aravidis was born in Athens in 1965.He studied Piano and Advanced Theory
(Harmony,Counterpoint,Fugue) at the” Hellenic Conservatory of Athens” and obtained his
Piano Soloist and Theory Diplomas with the highest distinction.
He continued his studies at the “Ecole Normale Superieure de Musique de Paris”,in France
where he studied Orchestra Conducting with Professor-Conductor Dominique Ruits.He
graduated with first distinction.
After completing his studies,he was accepted as a student at several Orchestra Conducting
Masterclasses:Richard Schumacher (Switzerland),Yuri Simonov (Hungary) and Choir Conduct
ing with Peter Erdei (Hungary).
He participated in the 16 th National Conducting Competition in Lugano (Switzerland) with
success.
He attended various seminars including “Carl Orff” in Austria (Universitat Mozarteum Salzburg-Orff Institut) and “Zoltan Kodaly” in Hungary (Kodaly Pedagogical Institut of Music).
He began his career in Paris by conducting regordings by young French composers (in first performances),ballet music and film scores.
He has conducted varius orchestras abroad,including the “Symphony Orchestra of South
Hungary”,the “National Symphony Orchestra of Cyprus”,the Italian Orchestra “Giovanni
Partenopea”.
In Greece,he conducted the “National Orchestra of Salonika” at the age of 26.Since then,he
has conducted several high-profile orchestras,including the “National Orchestra of
Athens”,the “Symphony Orchestra of the National Radio (ERT)”,the “Contemporary Music Orchestra of the National Television (ERT)”,the “State Orchestra of Athens”,the “Chamber
Music Orchestra of the National Opera”,the “Symphony Orchestra of Volos”. He has been working with the “Greek National Opera”since 1995 as a Conductor. He has conducted recordings for the “National Radio and Television” and has worked in varius productions by the “Athens Concert Hall(Megaron)”,the “Salonika Concert Hall”,the “Irodio Theatre (Athens Music Festival).
Since 1994 he is the principal Conductor of the “Chamber Opera of Athens”.
Since 1992 he founded the “Protipon Chamber Orchestra of Athens” and since 2005 he founded the “Sinfonietta Orchestra of Athens”,which he has been conducting since then. He has taught varius Masterclasses at the “Opera Lab” of the Greek National Opera. He composes music and he has been part of the examiners boards in varius musical competitions (including the “Greek National Scholarship Foundation”).
He teaches Conducting at the “Hellenic Conservatory of Athens” and has been a founding
member of the “Conservatory Orchestra” for which he worked for 4 years (1992-1996).He
was artistic director of the Hellenic conservatory from 2003 since 2018.Also he is artistic
director of the "Future Academy of Arts " in Cyprus.Finally he is artistic director of the Contemporary orchestra ERT.